Grandma leaned on a dragon-headed cane, appearing at the entrance of the hall with the support of several maidservants. That seven-foot-long dragon-headed cane had been specially designed for Grandma by Helen Brooks when he was five years old, and a carpenter from Lintao was commissioned at great expense to craft it.

Grandma was so fond of it that she was unwilling to part with the dragon-headed cane for even a moment.

But in the eyes of others, this dragon-headed cane, weighing over ten catties, was hardly any less dangerous than a lethal weapon.

As soon as George Brooks saw Grandma appear, he immediately felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. However, when he noticed the cane in Grandma's hand, he secretly groaned. With Grandma present, he could forget about punishing Helen Brooks; he might even end up being punished by Grandma himself.

George Brooks knelt down, and Evelyn Brooks and the others quickly followed suit.

“Grandmother, why are you here?” Helen Brooks ran to Grandma's side, supporting her.

“Mildred, are you hurt?”

“No, Mildred is fine, not hurt at all.”

Grandma held Helen Brooks's hand and said, “Grandmother's heart has been pounding uneasily since noon... Mildred, has someone been bullying you? Tell Grandmother! I, this old blind woman, want to see who dares to bully my Mildred!”

George Brooks gave a wry smile and said, “Mother, no one wants to bully Mildred, it's just that Mildred... killed someone!”

Grandma snorted coldly, “Aren't they just eighteen useless good-for-nothings? So what if they're dead? Eighteen people together couldn't beat a child; even if they lived, they'd just be wasting food. Mildred, well done, well done!”

“But he also injured Charlotte Brooks!”

“He's a good-for-nothing too!” Grandma said coldly, “He learned a couple of flashy moves and struts around Lintao showing off. Don't think just because I'm blind I don't know what he's been up to. Mildred, you did well... Dying at the hands of your own is better than being humiliated by outsiders. Mildred, if he doesn't improve next time, just beat him to death.”

“Understood, Grandmother!”

From the moment Grandma appeared, Helen Brooks knew he was safe.

However, his gaze was fixed on Edward Thompson, who had kept his head lowered, his eyes darting about. Edward Thompson—this person seemed quite famous, at least he appeared in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He knew he was his brother-in-law, but had never actually met him. Still, he didn't look as the novel described, with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks; he actually looked rather refined.

Edward Thompson could feel Helen Brooks's gaze, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Don't tell me this little demon has set his sights on me. He must be blaming me for not helping him in the martial arena... This is bad.

George Brooks was so stifled by Grandma's words that his face turned bright red, and he shouted, “But this unfilial son nearly killed Paul!”

“Oh?”

Grandma started to laugh, but everyone in the hall except Helen Brooks could sense the anger behind her smile.

Evelyn Brooks couldn't help but complain inwardly: Brother, please, just stop talking. Can't you see? Mother is determined to protect this little demon. The more people you drag into this, the worse it gets for us. Brother, please, just be quiet.

“Paul!”

Evelyn Brooks shuddered, hurriedly crawled forward on his knees, and prostrated himself before Grandma.

“Mother, your son is here!”

Grandma sneered, “You were nearly killed by Mildred?”

Evelyn Brooks hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “Yes.”

“Paul... how old are you this year?”

“Mother, I am forty-one this year.”

“Hahaha, at least you remember your age. Over forty, and you were nearly killed by a child—how do you have the face to stay here? Tell me, did Mildred attack you by surprise?”

“No, he didn't!”

Grandma swung her dragon-headed cane and brought it down with a thud, striking Evelyn Brooks hard on the back.

“You may have no shame, but I, this old woman, still do. Forty-two years old, knocked off your horse by a child—if I were you, I'd have bashed my head in long ago to save myself the embarrassment. Emily Brooks's sons are really something, each more promising than the last.”

Chapter 5: Aspiring to Be a Match for Ten Thousand (2)

Emily Brooks was the father of George Brooks and Evelyn Brooks.

Grandma's words made everyone in the hall flush with embarrassment. George Brooks felt so stifled he wished he could crawl into a hole. It wasn't just the public humiliation—more importantly, Grandma wasn't wrong.

“Mildred, Grandmother is tired. Come with me back to my room and finish telling me the story from yesterday.”

After speaking, Grandma glanced at the others in the hall. “If there's nothing else, I'll take Mildred back with me.”

“We respectfully see Grandma off!”

As they watched Grandma leave with Helen Brooks's support, everyone in the hall let out a collective sigh of relief.

The guests and hosts took their seats again. George Brooks slammed his hand on the long table and growled in a low voice, “That unfilial son, that unfilial son... If Mother hadn't stopped me, I would have chopped off that wretch's head myself.”

Edward Thompson couldn't help but snicker beside him, but realizing his slip, he quickly covered his mouth.

Most people in the hall were still in a daze, but that didn't mean no one heard Edward Thompson's laughter.

Sitting next to him, Brian Ford couldn't help but ask curiously, “Wenzheng, what are you laughing at?”